Brad Inger reviews the Penrith Panthers clash with the New Zealand Warriors. Here’s how the game went.
MATCH TIMELINE
| Minute | Scoring Play | Score |
| 11th | Try Matt Burton | Panthers 4-0 |
| 12th | Goal Stephen Crichton | Panthers 6-0 |
| 22nd | Try Matt Burton | Panthers 10-0 |
| 35th | Try Jarome Luai | Panthers 14-0 |
| 36th | Goal Stephen Crichton | Panthers 16-0 |
| 42nd | Try Josh Mansour | Panthers 20-0 |
| 63rd | Try Billy Burns | Panthers 24-0 |
| 64th | Goal Stephen Crichton | Panthers 26-0 |
MATCH SUMMARY
1st half
Pressure was the key in the first half as the Panthers, desperate to make up for their disappointing round 3 draw ran with intent and took advantage of some poor Warriors discipline with rookie half Matt Burton scoring a double. The Warriors showed fight with some great runs from their forwards but struggled with their last tackle options. The Warriors also consistently struggled to wrap the Panthers players up in the tackle which allowed the Panthers to utilise plenty of second phase football, Jarome Luai finished the first half off running onto his own grubber to score stretching the Panthers lead to 16-0 after a Stephen Crichton conversion.
2nd half
The second half started much like how the first half ended, with the Panthers continuing to pile on the points with Josh Mansour scoring early after a nice Kikau offload. The Warriors defence started to improve from the first half effort and had plenty of opportunities to get themselves on the scoreboard but still struggled with their kicking game. Billy Burns cemented the Panthers fourth win of the season running onto a nice Matt Burton short ball to score the final try of the match. The Warriors had one final attempt to score with Patrick Herbert making an unsuccessful last gasp dive in the in-goal area resulting in the Warriors second scoreless defeat in 2020.
GAME HIGHLIGHT
It was early in the game, but my highlight from the game came from Matt Burton’s second try. After a Blake Green kick deflected off Burton’s leg, he showed great pace and determination to close in on the loose ball to score his second try. This play saw the Panthers confidence in attack grow tenfold as well creating doubt in the Warriors halves on last tackle options which ultimately lead to a Panthers victory. With Nathan Cleary returning next week it will be interesting to see what Ivan Cleary does with Burton moving forward.
SQUADS
Penrith Panthers: 1. Caleb Aekins, 2. Josh Mansour, 3. Dean Whare, 4. Stephen Crichton, 5. Brian To’o, 6. Matt Burton, 7. Jarome Luai, 8. James Tamou, 9. Apisai Koroisau, 10. James Fisher-Harris, 11. Viliame Kikau, 12. Kurt Capewell, 13. Isaah Yeo, 14. Mitch Kenny, 15. Zane Tetevano, 16. Moses Leota, 19. Billy Burns
New Zealand Warriors: 1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 2. Patrick Herbert, 3. Gerard Beale, 20. Hayze Perham, 21. Adam Pompey, 6. Kodi Nikorima, 7. Blake Green, 8. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown, 9. Wade Egan, 10. Adam Blair, 11. Eliesa Katoa, 12. Tohu Harris, 13. Isaiah Papali’i, 3. Karl Lawton, 14. Jack Murchie, 15. Poasa Faamausili, 16. King Vuniyayawa
